Feeding mechanism



. material from a supply Patented Mar. 18, 1941 PATENT OFFICE FEEDINGBIECHANISM Joseph B. Potoczky,

Owens-Illinois Glass of Ohio Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Company, acorporation Application March 20, 1939, Serial No. 262,908

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to feeding mechanism for automaticallytransferring measured charges of granular or powdered moldable bodythereof contained in a hopper or other receptacle, to the individual'molds of a molding machine.

The improved mechanism comprising the present invention is primarilyadapted for use in connection with molding machines of the rotary typewherein a plurality of molding units or dies are moved progressively andcontinuously through a predetermined cycle of Operations, the moldingmaterial being fed to the dies at one point in the cycle.

The prncipal object of the invention is to provide a rugged and durablefeeding mechanism comprised of a minimum number of moving parts whichmay be attached to the casing or other stationary part of the moldingmachine and which will cooperate with the moving parts thereof in such amanner as to be actuated thereby;

Another object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism whichwill transfer measured charges of moldable material from a supply bodythereof to the individual molds of the molding machine with practicallyno loss of material due to spilling thereof or to the creation ofmaterial dust in the atmosphere.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism whichis readily adjustable to accommodate different machines or toaccommodate the different Operating characteristics of the same machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechansm formolding machines in which provision is made for varying the size orquantity of the measured charges to accommodate varying mold capacities.

Other objects of the invention, not at this time enumerated, will becomeapparent hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a molding machine,showing the improved feeding device attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of acharging arm and shutter arm assembly employed in connection with thepresent invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectonal view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 'i is a sectional view taken substantially i along the line 4-4 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 6 showing the feeding devicein the act of charging a mold; and

Fig. 8 is a Vertical sectional view taken through a charging plateconstruction employed in connection with the present invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the molding machine includes a base member IZ.in the form of a ring which is supported upon legs |3. A casing Mpartially encloses the operative moving machine instrumentalities in themedial region of the machine while an upper casing l5 surrounds theseinstrumentalities, both casings lt and |5 being secured to a ring orband IB supported by means of tie rods Il from the base member l2.

The upper casing 15 is formed with a slot or opening |8 therein at thefront of the machine through which the various molds are supplied withmoldable material and through which the formed `articles are removedfrom the machine. Rotatably supported within the casing IB adjacent theupper portion of the machine is a head IB or drum having relativelythick continuous upper'and lower radial fianges Zil and 2| respectively.The lower -flange 2| is provided with a series of Vertical bores 22therein in which are supported for Vertical sliding movement a pluralityof cylindrical members 23 carrying piston rods 24 at their lower endswhich are associated with an annular series of hydraulic cylinders 25supported in the peripheral region of a rotary table 26. A mold 21 ordie element having an open cavity 2B is supported on the upper end ofeach of the cylindrical members 23. The die elements are designed forCooperation with a series of mandrels 29 or male die elements which arealigned therewith and which are supported about the periphery of theupper flange 20. An ejecting mechanism 39 which is common to all of themandrels 29 is provided for stripping the formed articles therefrom inthe vicinity of the charging zone.

The moldable material is fed to the die elements 21 at the charging zonethrough the opening |8 in the casing IE and immedately thereafter thecharged die elements are elevated by the hydraulic cylinders 25 intoforming Cooperation with the mandrels 29. The die elements proceedthrough a forming cycle during which they are heated and the materialtherein is cured and, as they again approach the opening E8 they 2.2,235,1 1 1 are lowered and the formed articles removed "23 of thevarious die elements when the chal'zing from the mandrels 29 by means ofthe ejecting mechanism w. The operation is continuous.

The arrangement of parts thus far described is purely conventionalinsofar as the present invention is concerned and no claixn is madeherein to any novelty associated therewith, the present inventionresiding rather` in the novel arrangement of the feeding device whichwill now be described in detail.

Referring again to Fig. l, the moldable material is contained in acharging hcpper H which communicates with a Vertical chute iii)adjustably secured by means of a plate iii to the casing |5 at theforward side of the machine. The lower end of the chute (iii terminatesin the charging zone in the vicinity of the revolving molds or dies 27and is provided with a sealing sleeve 42 which is telescopically mcuntedthereon and which is normally held by means of springs 12-3 in yieldingengagel ent with a charging plate M which is slidable therebeneath. Thecharging plate lift (see also 8) is formed with a charging openingtherein which is movable with the plate frorn a position of registerwith the chute 'iii to pc-sitions of register with the individual dies27.

The opening is formed with a shoulder at the upper end thereof on whichthere seats a ferrule 33 having a downwardly extending cylindricalfiange 34. A bushing 35 is threadedly received in the opening 155 belowthe shoulder 3:2

the fiange adjostable in the and extends upwardiy between and wall ofthe opening and opening G5 by means of spanner notches formed in theperiphery thereof. The low edge of the fiang'e 3d is tapered as at fi?and closely against the inner wall of the bushing to provide asubstantially continuous surface thus providing a substantiallycylindrical charging cavity the capacity of which may be varied byadjusting the position of the bushing 35 with respect to the ferrule Theferrule .'53 and bushing 35 are also replaceable and by varying theeffective diameter of the charging cavity, molds of different capacitybe ecco: v

Referring now to Figs. l, 6 and '7, the char t plate M is secured to thefree end of a chargng arm 56 for longitudinal adjustmem thereon. Theother end of the arm 58 (Fig. 6) is keyed for Vertical adjustment to avertically extendlng rock-shaft 5! which is mounted in bearings 5?? and53 secured to the ring E6 and base member |2 respectively. A coil spring513 surz'ounding the rock-shaft 5i has one end thereof secured to anangularly adjustable ccllsr and its other end bent for engagement withthe upper bearing This spring applies a torque to the rock-shaft 5| insuch a manner as to urge the cl'rarging arm 59 inwardly toward themolding machine so that the charging plate M1 normally assumes acharging relation with respect to the individual die elements 25.Angular adjustment of the collar 56 on the shaft 5| permits the tensionof the spring 54 to be varied.

The innermost position of chw 'W is Controlled by means of a s tendingthrough the arm against the casing to `iimit the inwerd swin ingmovement of the arm. It will i seen that by adjusting the position ofthe changing plate 44 on the charging arm 59 and by manipnla the setscrew 55, the opening 45 in the plate zi may be accurately aligned withthe die cavities ping plate et screw 55 exadapted to bear plate 'tli isin its innermost position.

Referring now to Fig. 1 wherein the mechanism for the rock-shaft ii isdisclosed, a cam member W or follower is secured to the rock.- shaft 5!adjacent the bottom thcreof and is provided with a set screw GE adaptedto bear against a cam member (E2 or rock-arm secured to a Verticallyextending rock-shaft G3 which is mounted in bearings G5 and (iii on thering if and base member E2 respectively.

The coil spring 54, acting through the shaft 58, cam follower 6G and setscrew Gi, normally nrges the cam member G2 inwardly and causes the sameto be interposed in the path of movement of revolving series ofhydraulic cyllnders 25 and, by engagement with successive cylinders, tobe actuated thereby.

In the outermost position of the cam member the follower 88 is heldoutwardly away from the molding machine and the charging arm 53 andplate lift assume the position shown in Fig. 6 Wherein the chargingopening 45 is in register with the lower end of the chute 129.

In the innermost position of the cam member the inner end region thereofis in engagement with the side of one of the cylinders 25 and thefollower 6B assumes its innermost position with the charging arm 59 andplate 'tli assuming the position shown in Fig. 7 wherein the chargingopening 45 is in register with the cavity 23 of one of the die elements21.

The center-to-center distance between adjacent cylinders 25 being equalto the center-tocenter distance between adjacent die elements 27,actuation of the charging arm 50 in timed relation to the arrival of thedie elements at the charging zone will be attained regardless of therate of speed at which the molding machine is driven and regardless ofthe fact that the cam member 62 at the precise moment of charging one ofthe die elements 27 cooperates with a cylinder 25 three times removedfrom the actuating cylinder for the die being charged.

In order to effectively close the bottom of the charging opening fs inthe charging plate '34 when the opening is in register with the chute i,a closure plate W or shutter plate is tiltably mounted on one end of anarm 7| by means of lugs 72 pivoted to a cross-shaft 'E3 carried by abracket T4 which is vertically adjustable in a guideway ".75 formed nearthe free end of the arm 1| and which may be clamped in any desiredposition of adjustment by means of a clamping bolt 'U5 that extendsthrough a slot TI formed in the arm H. A leaf spring 78 is clamped tothe bracket 74 by means of a plate T9 and bears upwardly against theunderneath side of the shutter plate to maintain the latter flush withthe lower end of the bushing 35 which defines the capacity of thecharging opening 45. The arm i! is pivoted by means of an antifrictionbearing assembly 39 (Fig. 2) to the charging arm 59 at a point near thepoint of attachment of the latter to the Vertical shaft 5|. A coilspring 8| encircles the shaft 51, lbears against the casing IE at oneend thereof, and bears against the arm TI! at the other end thereof tonormally urge the same inwardly toward the forming machine. A lng 82formed on the arm 'H extends upwardly therefrom and is provided with aset screw 83 extending therethrough which bears against the arm 50 anddetermines the relative position of the former arm with respect to thelatter arm. By proper adjustment of the set screw 83 the shutter plate10 may be caused to register with the charging opening 45 When thecharging plate 44 is in its retracted position beneath the chute 40.

The shutter plate 70 is movable inwardly with the charging plate 44 asthe latter moves inwardly to charge the dies 21. A set screw 84extending through the arm 1| is designed for contact With the casing |5to limit the inward swinging movement of the arm and terminate theinward movement of the shutter plate 10 when the forward edge thereofoverlies the edge of the particular die cavity 28 which is about toreceive a charge of the moldable material from the charging cavity 45 inthe charging plate 44. The charging plate 44 however continues its in-Ward movement until the charging cavity 45 is in registry With the diecavity 2B and thus the moldable material contained in the latter, nolonger being supported on the shutter plate 10 falls by gravity into thecavity 28 of the mold 21.

In order to render the charging device inoperative as for example whenit is desired to inspect the condition of the die elements, mandrels orother instrumentalities or to substitute die elements in the moldingmachine without ceasing operation of the latter, a locking member 85(Fig. 1) is pivoted to a stud 86 extending upwardly from a boss 81formed on the charging arm 50 and may be swung to a radial position Withrespect to the central axis of the machine to engage the casing |5 andhold the charging arm in its retracted position.

Modifications may be resorted to within the i spirit and' scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Feeding mechanism for rotary molding machin'es of the type includingan annular series of molds each having an upwardly presented moldcavity, and means for rotating the series' of molds about a Verticalaxis to move the same through a charging zone, said mechanism includinga vertical rock-shaft, a charging arm secured to the rock-shaft, acharging plate having a charging opening therein mounted on the chargingarm, said plate being movable inwardly with the charging arm from aretracted position to a position Wherein the opening therein is inregister With a mold cavity at the charging zone, a second arm pivotedto the charging arm medially thereof and movable in unisonl therewith, ashutter plate mounted on the second arm, means normally urging thesecond arm to a position wherein the shutter plate underlies and closesthe bottom of the opening in the charging plate, means independentlylimiting the inward movement of each arm, means actuating the rock-shaftin timed relation to movement of the molds through the charging zone,and means for supplying moldable material to the charging opening in thecharging plate When the charging arm is in its retracted position.

2. Feeding mechanism for i'otary molding machines of the type includinga stationary casing, an annular series of molds mounted for rotationabout a Vertical axis within the casing, each mold having an upwardlypresented mold cavity, and means for rotating said series of molds tomove the same through a charging zone, said mechanism including aVertical rocl-shaft disposed outside of the 'casing a charging armsecured to the rock-shaft, a charging plate having a 'charging openingtherein mounted on the charging arm, said plate being movable invvardlywith the charging arm lfrom a retracted position outside of the casingto a position Within' the casing Wherein the charging opening is inr-egistry with a mold cavity at the charging zone, a second arm pivotedto the charging arm medially thereof and movable in unison therewith, ashutter plate mounted on the second arm, means normally urging thesecond arm to a position Wherein the shutter plate underlies the openingand closes the bottom of the same, a set screw extending through the,charging arm and designed for engagement with the casing to limit theinward movement of the former, a set screw extending through the secondarm and designed for engagement with the casing to limit the inwardmovement of the second arm, means for actuating the rock-shaft in timedrelation to movement of the molds through the charging zone, and meansfor supplying moldable material to the charging opening in the chargingplate when i the charging arm is in its retracted position.

3. A feeding mechanism for supplying charges of moldable material from asupply chute to the upwardly presented mold cavities of a series ofmolds moving in succession through a charging zone comprising a Verticalrock-shaft, a charging arm secured thereto, a second arm pivoted to thecharging arm medially thereof, a charging plate having a chargingopening therein secured to the charging arm, a shutter plate secur'ed tothe second arm, means yieldingly maintaining the second arm in fixedrelation to the charging arm With the shutter plate underlying andclosing the bottom of the opening in the charging plate, means foractuating the rock-shaft in timed relation to the movement of the moldsthrough the charging zone to move the charging arm from a retractedposition to a position Wherein the charging opening is in register witha mold cavity at the charging zone, a stationary abutment, an abutmenton each of the arms engageable with the stationary abutment to limit themovement of its respective arm, means for adjusting the position of eachof said latter abutments, and means for supplying moldable material fromthe chute to the charging opening in the charging plate When thecharging arm is in its retracted position.

4. In a feeding mechanisrn for supplying charges of moldable materialfrom a supply chute to the upwardly presented mold cavities of a seriesof molds. moving in succ'ession through a charging zone, a rock-shaft, acharging arm secured to the rock-shaft at one end thereof, a chargingplate having a charging opening therein se'cured to the free end of thecharging arm, a second arm pivoted to the charging arm medially thereof,a bracket mounted on the outer end of the second arm, and verticallyadjustable thereon, a shutter plate pivoted to the bracket, meansnormally maintaining said arms in fixed relationship With the shutterplate underlying the charging opening, means on the braclret normallyurging the shutter plate into sealing engagement with the bottom of theopening, means for actuating the rock-shaft to move the charging arm`from a retracted position to a position wherein the charging opening isin register with a mold cavity at the charging zone, an abutmentpositioned in the path of movement of the second arm to limit 'itsmovement during movement of the charging arm, and means for supplyingmoldable material from the chute to the charging opening in the chargingplate when the charging arm is in its retracted position.

5. A charging plate for transferring measured charges of moidablematerial from a supply chute to the upwardiy presented moid cavity of aforming mold in a plastic molding machine, there being acharging openingin said plate having an internal shoulder adjacent the top thereof, aringlke ferrule including a lateral annular fiange seated on theshoulder and a depending cylindrical portion concentric With the openingextending downwardly therein and spaced from the Walls thereof, thewalls of said opening below the shoulder being threaded, and a bushingthreadedly received in said openingr below the shoulder, said bushingextending below the bottom of the opening and the Walls thereof fillingthe space between the Walls of the opening and the cylindrioal portionof the ferrule.

JOSEPH B. POTOCZKY.

